techUK industry perspective: Preparing for Quantum Resilience
techUK’s new industry perspective paper sheds light on how businesses can become quantum resilient. The paper shares practical recommendations for business and government to navigate the challenges posed by quantum technologies, while recognising that quantum offers exciting opportunities to progress world leading science and research.
The paper sets out separate recommendations for governments and for businesses. You can view these recommendations and more by clicking here or on the image.
Please note that there has been updated guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), who have introduced a updated roadmap for transitioning to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). You can view this here.
As the UK strives to position itself as a global leader in quantum technologies, it is imperative to ensure that quantum deployment is safe and secure. Alongside the opportunities quantum technologies may bring, they also pose significant cyber threats. Quantum computers could potentially breach encryption keys safeguarding sensitive data, compromising the integrity of digital documents, financial transactions, and personal information.
techUK states that an enhanced use of post-quantum cryptography sits at the heart of quantum safety. As quantum technologies develop, it is possible they will break cryptography in the years to come. While we cannot predict how or when this will happen, it is important that businesses take this seriously and are empowered to prepare for quantum resilience.
The quantum and cryptography communities have been preparing for the quantum threat through defining and standardising quantum-resistant solutions, including post-quantum cryptography (PQC). Following the long-awaited guidance from NIST released in August 2024, this report follows on from this by setting out the current state of play and what this means for businesses. It also explores and myth busts quantum random number generation (QRNG), and quantum key distribution (QKD).
Quantum technologies will unlock many benefits across financial services, life sciences, transportation and other key industries. But we cannot shy away from the security threats they also pose.
It is imperative for organisations to prepare for the quantum future, including preparing for quantum resiliency. Our report, written in collaboration with techUK’s quantum and cyber security members, provides practical insights to help businesses navigate the complexities of quantum security
Laura Foster
techUK
IBM aims to bring useful quantum computing to the world, and to make the world quantum safe. And while quantum computing has great potential for science and innovation, it could lead to increased risk to the security of our most sensitive data and systems. The publication of NIST's post-quantum cryptography standards means that UK organisations also have the agreed standards they need to plan and build a quantum-safe future, and to implement the National Cyber Security Center guidance on PQC migration. The techUK report gives executives and leaders a good overview of how the UK is addressing quantum risk alongside the UK's National Quantum Strategy
Zygmunt Lozinski
IBM Research
techUK continues to be the advocate voice for the quantum industry. techUK's previous flagship quantum report Quantum commercialisation: Positioning the UK for success called on UK Government and industry to set clear commercial ambitions together, giving UK-based and international businesses the confidence that the UK is a viable place to achieve quantum commercial viability. You can view this here.
To push forward this report and more, techUK has the Quantum Working Group. techUK's Quantum Working Group focuses on pushing forward the UK's emerging quantum market whilst addressing key challenges hindering commercialisation such as skills, procurement and trade.
techUK – Unleashing UK Tech and Innovation
The UK is home to emerging technologies that have the power to revolutionise entire industries. From quantum to semiconductors; from gaming to the New Space Economy, they all have the unique opportunity to help prepare for what comes next.
techUK members lead the development of these technologies. Together we are working with Government and other stakeholders to address tech innovation priorities and build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet - and unleash the UK as a global leader in tech and innovation.
For more information, or to get in touch, please visit our Innovation Hub and click ‘contact us’.
